Chevrolet Camaro Engine Upgrades - LS1 Hop-Ups

Easy 20 Horses in Under an Hour

If you have the faintest appreciation for musclecars, then you know that most car buffs thought the grim reaper of performance had finally reared its ugly head when electronic fuel injection (EFI) was first introduced in the early ’80s. This was a legitimate concern because all of the EFI cars at that time were considerably EPA cautious with a focus on gas mileage and emissions. However, over the last 20 years things have changed, and that newfangled technology has now been integrated into the endless quest for more horsepower.

Power PlayWhat was once viewed as a limitation now allows for greater flexibility in both tuning and maintaining streetability. This didn’t happen overnight, of course, but the lessons learned by aftermarket electronic engineers from the early Cross-Fire and Tuned Port Injection systems have brought us light years ahead with the venerable EFI LS1 small-block. The real question now is...just how potent are the musclecars of today?

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Chevrolet Camaro Engine Upgrades - LS1 Hop-Ups

To install the Hypertech Power Programmer III, simply plug it into the factory Data Link Connector located above the driver’s right knee. With the parking brake on and the ignition key in the run position, press the “up” arrow on the programmer to get started.

Upgrading the throttle-body to the ported piece was a snap. With the airbox lid and MAF sensor removed, unclamp the two coolant lines (arrow) on both sides of the housing, and then use a 10mm socket to remove the three housing bolts. Reverse the process with the new 75mm MMS unit and that’s it!

Finishing the installation included mounting the new MAF sensor with the factory hose clamps and tossing the stock airbox lid in favor of a higher-flowing lid from a ’99 Corvette. Even nicer is how the finished product still retains the factory demeanor.

A lot of reasons can be found as to why engines perform one way or the other as well as improve and its attributed to the EFI. Here is a primer on the modern miracle of Electronic Fuel Injection. - GM High-Tech Performance Magazine » Read More